That One Puppet Thing

Yall know that’s gross right? That’s not cute. Just having secret pictures of someone you like without them knowing??

Moon assumes that it’s something dirty because of how Mars reacts so nervously, but we’ve seen how placating and stuttery he gets when Folly gets upset, and he’d want to avoid it at all costs. He’s given her hundreds of dollars just so she won’t get upset at him. Plus, we’ve seen that Lunar is incredibly bad at keeping serious secrets; If he found out that Mars had some sort of non-consensual pictures of her, he’d tell Earth in a heartbeat. Whereas if it was just an unflattering picture, Lunar would be willing to use it as leverage.

Over the course of the next few weeks…

Moments of them bonding that Mars doesn’t want leaked, because 1. It would reveal their growing relationship and 2. Folly would skin him alive if her threatening aura was diminished by photos of her getting silly with it.

also bonus:

Real faun with a type 7 Tessier facial cleft. No Photoshop, no AI. Just nature.

You've probably seen it if you've been on the internet at all these past couple years. "Something" pretending to be a white-tailed deer, allegedly haunting the Appalachian Mountains. You can always tell, because there's something just a little -- or very -- off about it. Usually seen on grainy, nighttime trail camera images.

But the reality is, these behaviors, looks, and quirks all have an explanation. I'd like to demystify deer for both sides here -- they're far more complex than many people give them credit for, and far weirder, naturally, than anyone wants to admit.

So, here's some normal deer behaviors/appearances that have become "not deer" tropes:

Standing/walking on hind legs

You've probably seen this one. Whitetails do this all the time, mostly when they're duking it out with their front hooves or reaching for leaves/apples/acorns/etc. This is also a common rutting (breeding) behavior for bucks like this, which will rub their antlers and faces on branches to mark them.

Pale eyes

(source)

Yes, whitetails can have naturally pale or blue eyes, especially if they have leucism (a lack of melanin). It's a rare, but normal gene, which can be more pronounced in inbred populations. (Alternatively, blindness or cataracts can cause the eyes to turn blue or milky.)

Long necks and legs

Deer have long necks, some longer than others, which they extend when they're watching something. Like people, there's variation in their proportions. This also goes for other "not deer" features, like eyes being "too far apart" or "too close together."

Age is also a factor. This one in particular is an older, "teenage" fawn, which is why its face is small and round while its neck is awkwardly long.

Prolonged eye contact, standing completely still

Yes, I've seen this called a "not deer" thing. What these guys are known for doing in the middle of the road.

This is a defense mechanism. The deer is watching you because you're a predator, and it's trying not to be seen.

Growling, hissing, screaming

I can understand this one a little better. Usually, a buck will grunt during the rut to tend to does and show off his prowess. There's various sounds he can make, including growling or clicking noises. However, rarely, any deer might growl in aggression or as a defense. This is scary, not because it's secretly a monster, but because it's about to beat you up with its antlers or sharp little hooves.

As for hissing, whitetails will blow air sharply through their noses when alarmed to alert nearby herd members of danger. This sound might also seem similar to a scream from far away. (Bucks will "snort wheeze" during rut, as well, but it's far softer.)

Eating bones, carrion, or live birds

Deer need calcium to produce antlers or milk, thus will chew on bones from various animals, including other deer and, in one study, humans (TW for human remains). They'll also occasionally feed on carcasses, eggs, and live birds/rodents if it's a lean winter (or just for extra protein). Many ungulates do this, including domestic cattle and horses!

Now, sometimes a deer doesn't act or look right, and it is a cause for concern because it's ill or injured. Here are some abnormal behaviors and appearances, and what might cause them (TW for sick, emaciated deer):

As usual, it can be TSBS, T.O.P., Red Rogues, or I1 Phoenix. Just be sure to specify.